Its not a Simple as that I’m afraid, The J models are now 23 Years old, the RAF now only have 4 in operational service with approx 10 others up for sale over at Cambridge.
To operate any aircraft you need Trained Crews, a very expensive spares backup plus midlife updates.
The biggest update for ALL C130’s is the WingBox change due to Cracking which is a Massive job wings off and new Wingbox fitted with a couple of months at Marshalls in Cambridge and Big costs,
Hence the C5’s went a few years ago prior to this update 😉
A good contact of mine works for Marshalls and he tells me that last year they were asked by the RAF to do a feasibility study on keeping 5 C130J C4’s in full operational status (Crew training, spares updates etc) till 2026 they even thought of using some of the stored Hercs as Christmas trees to support the active fleet of 5 and the costs were not sustainable so Govenment says RAF you need to save money !! ( a bit like the early doors on the Harrier fleet in 2010) so unfortunately its the final curtain for the Hercules.
Plus on my last visit to the Boneyard there were upwards of 350 to 400 C130’s all carefully stored in the desert not many J models I agree but lots of cheap second hand Hercs none the less
The Atlas need to take up the slack left by the Hercules , will it be sucessful ? I am sure (as a ex RAF Herc engineer) the RAF will do their best to make it work
Kind regards
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